Apparatus for resurfacing plastic record belts and the like



Sept. 9, 1 A. KEGAN ETAL APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING PLASTIC RECORD BELTS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 u 'l qf jam Filed Feb. 1, 1950 S p 1952 A. l. KEGAN EI'AL 2,609,789

APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING PLASTIC RECORD BELTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: mam J 56962 BY 15mm 51 Sept. 9, 1952 A. KEGAN EI'AL 2,609,789

' APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING PLASTIC RECORD BELTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS d/ZerfZ/feggan BY/Z/mG/O 5. g ro ar Ami.

A. I. KEGAN ETAL APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING PLASTIC RECORD BELTS AND THE LIKE Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Feb. 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 IN VEN TORS CZZMZZ KW MEI/2202019 5. Z/52m Patented Sept. 9, 1952 ICE ; APBA-RATUS, Eon RESURFACING PLASTIC i EEQQR BE -AN THE IKE Albert I, Kegan and Fortunate; S. Aglero, Chicago,

111.; assignors; by direct and -n 1 esne assignments,

sto' Samuel' W. Kipnis as trustee for Judith 'Kegan;DanieI:Kegan, and Franklin Kegan j.apnlicatiqnili r a 8' Claims. 11

Qu :...inven.t. relates;tqinor lpap ara u r o zi nmce ir nla t .-endle s' be ttype: u -r cor inss...and, thanke- 1A. prina palyabiectio ounmyenti n i r ;yid c mpact. eas ipn rate ppa t s-Wh sefiect ve y. A oblit ra soun a ta k formed in ast e tzt perecords. britt e use ven on y- MAnQth sub e t. 9 -.9i in ent o s to; r yi e orel apparatus a ap ed, taawly the ap ar s principles set forth, in,the coepending patent ap- ,,p1ieati n s a A ber ;.:':,K,esa Serial: N ,.8 9,

vifJanuaiy3 9 9, no a andoned, an e .i t e ..1 v bod DifilldfiPDfilfitU-S' oriResurf i s Elast ci liliQm p L'Bacords or .the' Li e; e pe-A raci l as said rinq ples app to ol e e asi .p ..be :t pe reco d ,tain types of la ticsmay oved by m r 1-W t in iitl1 plasti su ac with a suitableso u til soft ened, whereuponjnternal stresses .on

l han astic. mater a caus wa flo o mate ial whi h, obli e ate 'the su ac rs a nsp n t ere- ,,.a er s emoyin the so v ro t plastic su 1 face, as by evaporation. Our.inyentionprovides' v Ha 0volapparatus3f9 app in tt is p c p e o hith r r pro essin en l ;;b t: y o d .suc asithe' hi p s c cor belts h a h int us r sent, ears i h ni atin smac ine art to replace c l nd l rec d While we do not restrict our invention to the reprocessing of any particular type ofplastic materials; pn,to anyiparticular solyents, our invention is especiallywell adapted to remoypal of A sound tracks in, endless belt records formed from thin ethyl cellulose sheet materiaLusing solvents .isuch. astarbp t rach orid aceton a d th a etate fo th s urp s .iEtby 06 1 0 is the mrmcmaLmater 'a use omm rc a i o co 1 beltspwhilet e -.s en s am ar i exp n i V et ive excel ent esult i i s broad .as e ro ri r lc appa a nsmw prises a framework on which abelttype record may bap aced n lo ped co fi urat on and h raft :placed ,und nisl sht tens o t sa ien a 1 :plicaton and, a solyent reservoir therefor, b means .z lor p si i nin th r ra ewmtkn rela iv t r th o ventapp ca r b ns h at e n ot onta wwi htthe ,rescordibelt, and in m a s or marine t record belt relative to them applicator whereby asolvent: maytberappliediton the belt record. We ,ghave, discovered that unless the thin .recordb elt fig p acedtunder atens on :thatJthQs vnt acts to wa n and dist rt t e. tre ord'belt t the :poin th it cannot be used in the soundrecording machines for which it is intended.

Apparatussof thetypetspecified is. characterized F it s .i wii az ecialieaturesandadyaniaees:

girl) {lithe repordbe tis atnowtime apataa iab rdis.

1, 1,950, Sadat- 8a. 144,81

,torted by solvent action even though it; maybe composed of very thin, flexible-plastic material, :511:196 the belt is; held under slight tension in a looped configuration during reprocessing. -12) I 5 The mechanism may be fully; enclosed-while the j device is inthe operating position; toprotect-the operator against possibility of injiiry- (3)-*'-The reprocessing maybe carried outautomatically, ,sogthat the apparatus may be; usedby untrained ,pperators. (4) I310 material is removed.- from-the belt surface being refinished either duringoutting or during reprocessing hence; the record-belt can be repeatedly resurfaced-and: reused. (5) -A-small quantity of solventis ordinarily-suiiicient 15 to obliterate completely the sound-track {armed in the record surIace sO-that belts-ean-behrcprocessed at small cost.

In order that our invention may be mor'e'fully disclosed, reference is had to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate one form of apparatus embo yi the ,.,for soi s:an r s ;oth ap b i ciples, advantages or capabilities; as may be poin e out s h ssie cr p o cnmq edstpr asa inherent in the -present invention. Epr ypurposes 2511 lot; clarity; inE exposition, .the;. following-; description is explicit, andawthe -1 accompany n d win s-l W detailed but itiis distinctly to be understood that said exposition is illustrativefinly, and 51th?! our invention .is-rnotrestricted to ,themarticular details rrecited in" the specification or shown;in;. the

drawings. n a

Figure 1 .isa plan'view 10f arecord" reprocessing apparatus embodying our invention;

wFigure 2 is. a :right'side elevational yiewzstaken -in section -on the line-1+2 of Figure. 1; with? part -of:the leasing ofsthe'idrive motor broken awayto show interior details :thereof;

Figure 3--isa frontielevational yiewswith parts ---thereotbroken awayto show details of the'rop- 40 crating mechanism;

Figure 4-is a-Jeft lsideieleyational' view of :the apparatus in the shading position, with parts broken away to show interior details, an intermediate position of the record carrying-mechanism-being shown-in dotted outline;

Figure 5 is a plan view taken in section onthe dine; 5--5-of Figure 2;

Figures is aqiragmentary'iront elevational view taken'insection on the line 6--6 of Figure 2;

Figure Us a fragmentary rear elevational view taken in section onthe-line 'l--'lof Figure-2;

"Eigure 8-is a-fragmentary rear elevationalyiew -;taken in section on the line 8 8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 -is a fragmentary right side elevational view taken in section on the line 99 of Figure 1, with the belt carrying mechanism shown-in=the loadingposition; and igure 10 is a schematicyiewyoflthecontrol mechanism of the apparatus. Lik r i e e ch ra e g s sa rli j a in the drawings and in the description thereof which follows.

Before proceeding with a detailed descriptionof the construction and operation of the several parts comprising the embodiment shown in the drawings, and to indicate better the broad concepts of our invention, the organization and coaction of the principal parts comprising said em bodiment may be described in brief outline as follows:

Said apparatus includes (1) a framework adapted to hold a record belt in looped configuration, together with means for operating the framework to place the record under tension to prevent distortion when solvent is applied to the record; (2 means for applying solvent to the belt when tensioned on the framework; (3) means for moving the record belt and the solvent applying means relative to each other; and (4) mechae nism adapted to integrate the actions of the foregoing elements in a timed, automatic control sequence. When the solvent applied to the record is volatile, it is not essential that specific means be provided for its removal, since it will evaporate into the surrounding air. Preferred embodiments of our invention include, however, means for heating and moving air currents across the treated surface of the record to accelerate evaporation. The operation of the air heating and moving mean may of course be integrated with the operation of the other elements of the apparatus.

I. Record positioning mechanism customarily the record'belts which are to be reprocessed are thin and flaccid. If the records are unsupported during reprocessing, they frequently become warped and distorted by the uncontrolled action of the solvent to such an extent that they become useless as recording media, even though the sound track in the record may be completely obliterated. In the embodiment shown, however, the record belt being treated is housing I04 is a member l8, also rotatable about the sleeve bearing |2. A pair of guide pins I9 and 20 extend substantially radially from the member I8, Fig. 4, and provide means for slidably guiding the member 2| toward and away from the member I8. A helical spring 22 is positioned between the members I8 and 2| and acts toseparate the member 2| from the member I8. As best shown in Figure 5, another cantilever shaft 23 is secured to the member 2|, and extends therefrom substantially parallel to cantilever shaft I 3. An idler roller or mandrel 24 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 23 and forms with the driven mandrel It the supporting means for H holding a record belt 25 taut in looped configuration. 7

By grasping the handle 26 of the lever 21 extending from the member I8, said member I B and the mechanism carried thereby may be swung about the sleeve bearin I2 between the extremities of position shown in Figures 2 and 4. A

connecting spacer rod 28 joins the gear housing I04 and the member 2|, one end of the connecting spacer rod 28 being secured to said housing I84 by the pin 29, while the other end is secured to the member 2| by the pin 3B. A turnbuckle 3| provides means for adjusting the effective length of the connecting spacer rod 28. A is best shown in Figure 4, the pin 29 is eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of rotation of the member I8; hence as the idler roller 24 is rotated from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 2, the effective center to center distance between the driven roller or mandrel I6 and the idlermandrel 24 increases. By adjusting the length of the connecting rod 28, using the turnbuckle 3| for this purpose, the distance between the mandrels I6 and 24 in the position shown in Figure 2 may be set to place the record belt 25 under slight tensioning, so that rotation of the driven roller or mandrel I6 causes the record belt 25 to move about the roller IS in the manner of an endless pulley belt. When the rollers I6 and 24 are in the position shown in Figure 4, however, the record belt 25 is afforded sufficient slack and may be easily placed upon or removed from said mandrels I6 and 24. As best shown in Figure 9, a cylindrical surface of member I8 includes a notch 32 which may be engaged by the spring loaded detent ball 33 whilst in the loading position of Figure 4. As best shown in Figure 5, the poppet or detent ball 33 and its associated spring 34 are positioned Within the bore 35 in the gear housing I04, and are retained in place by the plug 36.

As the idler roller 24 is swung down into the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 4, the fiat 31 on the member 2| contacts the spring loaded pin 38. Movement of the idler roller 24 beyond this position causes the loading spring 39 of the pin 38 to compres within the cup shaped well 40 (Figure 10). As the idler roller 24 reaches the position shown in Figure 2, the latch 4| snaps into the notch 42 in the member 2|, to hold the mandrel 24 in the operating posi- 11. Record belt driving mechanism To propel the belt 25 about the rollers I6 and 24, the operator presses the starting button 9|, which displaces the witch bar 92 (Figure 10) downwardly into latching engagement by the spring-loaded armature 93 of the solenoid 94. When the switch bar 921s in the down position, the contact bridges the circuit between the source I03 of electrical energy and the drive motor 59, whereupon the drive shaft 58 of the motor 59 rotates.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the driven gear wheel I4 is drivably connected to the drive shaft 58 through a gear train comprising the spur gear 65 secured to the drive shaft 58, and the spur gears 66, 67, 68, 69 and the driving worm I0 carried by the bracket I65 extending from the blower housing 51. Through this gear train the angular velocity of the shaft l3 and the driven mandrel I6 may be very much reduced from that of the drive shaft 58, so that the record belt 25 moves slowly upon energization of the drive motor 59.

III. Solvent applicator means Referring again to Figure 2, the device is shown as including a solvent reservoir. 45 positioned 'shown'byithearrowstot'l igure 2,:the solyentap substantiallwbeneaththetidler"mandreiioraroller I 24 when =the flatter is inrthe operatingzirposition shown in saidhgurea The solvent'resenvoir may be filled with an appropriate olvent through' the 'flller plug'ni A needlevaive 41 adapted to seat" against the valve seat 148 'providesfmeansntor regulatingthe rate of how-01 solvent 'frionrzthe solvent reservoir 45 to the passagewayflias well as for shuttingbff the vflow altogether. 1 Aawick extendsinto the passageway and feeds solvent toothe'solvent applicator wiclc'5 I which "is positioned; to" be i-in' brushing: contact. :with: the lowerspanjz'oi the record belt 25when theidler mandrele24-is rmthe operating :positiontxa "I'd. adjust: the vertical. height 0t .the-isolnent applicator wick '5 I we provide a 'set screw: 53 which engages the sleeve 54, which sleeve 54 is iinturnurgedupwardly' 'by thespring 55.

As the? record belti :25 moves s-in:.the -.direction plicatorjl applies acthintfilm ottsolvent to'ithe outer surface of said record 25, whichcarries the soundzitrack '..to-::- be obliterated The zrateewith which lxsolvent ris. applied-M to nthe :b'elt. :record L 2 5 mayvabeadjusted .byi'meansofthe needl valve 41, as previously: mentioned; Advantageously: the solvent applicator I needsbearagainst the lower span :52 of the record belt 25 only: touthe textent necessaryrtolinsure a "steady flow :of .solventeonto said recordrbeltx25= Thus therexislittle if any rubbing; or abrasive' 'action ion the material-from which the record belt 25is made;especiallytsince the eapplicator 5 I ,may'tbe or :suchsnon-abrasive materials as felt, sponge rubber, or layers :of absorbentccotton .clothzsewn together."

Whenttoo muchsolvent is applied to the record 2 5, "the :excess. drainsxback :toward.;the applicator 5 I= ratherrthan; coalescing tintoz drops sof 'liquid,

5 due ::to the mandrel: 224 ..being,-:.lower*r than:. the

mandrele I B IV; Solvent remooal means As the treated surface of the recordz 'belt 25 moveszpastz the solvent applicator :5 I 'andttoward the idrivenhmandrelx I 6;.someiof the solvent will ,1 evaporate intonthe '-.air,. the amount depending oncthe avolatilityof: the rsolventt Asxthe belt 25 continues to movepit passes sever: the =outlet '5li of FthiblOWGl' "housing 51, from which a current of-zair istdischarged: against the r-tr'eated surface 1 of: :the "beltz 2 5.: The 'blowerawheelwjfi I! within th'e housingrt'a'l :is: -keyed; tO-LthQ :shattifia 'of the wdr ive motor 59';'=and;wil1 accordingly 'fb -rotated at -high speedll. AssshownrimFigure 2, thesside' SI of the blower housing 51 forming. :"part of the casing for the drive rzmotor :58; A is pertoratetd by the: vents 62,1 62, which. act-"ash inlet ports for the: housing 51 Thus; all air. which is :drawniinto-the blower housingtg5l' 'must' first pass :overnthe. windings sof drive motor 459, and is therefore "heatedxto aatem- I perature iWhiCh isrconside'rably above the ambient room: temperature: Airis rintztum supplied to the drive'motor 59 through the. intake'cports fl in :the main=housing ll (Figures.=12land 4):. .5 To further heat-the airbefore itiswdischarge from memeleli 5fig an electrical resistor :54 :positionedcin the blower housing: 51: just :below l thecoutlet ii. Asashown; int Figure 10, that-resistant imayzrbe connected miserieswith .thetdrive'smotonliilc v; commimehams 1 Referring. nowr'toFiguresr-rg; 5 3 t warm wheel: I4 *is :drivably #connected to= the spur gear 1 I'-,. which gear I I' is secured: torthedead screw 12 by theinuta'ltli. Since-the pitchi'dismeter oi' the womr; I0 is .relatively, large; compared to straight across; and maybe meshed with the spur gear: II a without 1 difiicult'y, especially since the angulartivelocities of the wheel I4 andthe gear It are-lows Thus; as the driven mandrel .1 Gimme to movc*thetrecord: belt 25,1the lead screw-12 turns sa. proportionate amount.

Positioned within the 1 upper: housing I02 subnstantiallysparallel 'to :the lead screw I2 is a shai-t 14, along which the carriage 15 is movable; An arm-1E :positioned at one end of vthe shaft 14 and "is drivably connected with the carriage '15 by, thezkeypll operatinglinthekeyway18... Thus. asthearm IB 'turns,: thezcarriage-"fi turns simi larlyreven though spaced alongtheshaft I4 from the'ar-mlfi: When: the memberi 8 is in-the load;- ingeposition, 1 the i carriage -.'I 5 is held. inrthe posttti-onshownl in Figure by the spring. III;: which acts 0n$11he linkilfl carried byxthe arm 16.. When the carriage 15 is 1 :in this latter position-, .the spring 8| on the shaft 14 presses against the-car'- riage -15 and holds it in against the arm 16;

Upon! swinging the member I8 into i the operating position; the camming surface 82 thereon moves theilink filltothe positionshown in Figure 2; therebycausingthe armlfi toturn in a counter clockwise-direction. As aresult, the'carriage :15 'pivots on'theshaft 14 to bring the half-nut 83 into drivingztengagement with the lead "screw I2.

Projecting substantially downwardly :from the carriage-I5 is a :switch' trip t 84 which. is adapted to actuate the switches 85 :and 8Iicformingrpart of the unit- Bl, shown schematically in Figure 10. The position-of the :unit 81 relative to the lead s'crew 'l2 maycbe adjusted by means of the lmob flazand theradjustment screw-'89, the pointerflfl providing Bani indication as totthe positionof; the

unit-x81 relative :to the upper housingIM.

Contactoiuthe switch? trip 84 with the switch 85 closes the :circuit between the solenoid 98 and the source I03 of electrical energy, whereupon the armature 9'! "rocks the latch 4] clockwise; as viewed-"in Figure 10, 'to "disengage said 1atch:4I from the notch 42 in the member 2| The action of-the latch 4| may be adjusted "to insure-disengagement from thenotch 42, by moving the'supportingbracket 99 of the'solenoid 96"relative to I-Ithemain housing II by means of theslot I00 and thezbolt I (II;v l 5 While the switchltrip 84 is still 'in engagement with: the switch 85, itrmay *also'contact' and close the switch 86 which acts to'ground the solenoid 94; n When this occurs, thespringloadedarm'ature=93 of the solenoid 94 releases the switch arm 92, whereupon the spring. I06 moves the'button BI and the-contact 95tothe up position: This breaks the circuitiof thedrive motor '59'and the .resistor '64; thereby stopping: the apparatuszf.

VIPOpemtion of apparatus 1 The application and advantages of our inventionwill be more fully realized upon considering the following description of one full cycle of operation of the embodiment shown in the drawings.

by engagement of the latch 4| with the notch A2.

Asthe idler mandrel 24 is rotated into this'posi- 'tion, themandrels l and 24 separate to tension motor 59 and electrical resistor 84. When this occurs, the drive motor 59 turns the shaft l3 through the inter-connecting gear train thereby driving the driven mandrel i6. Rotation'of the mandrel It results in the applicator'fil despositing a thin film of solvent upon the lower span 52 of the moving'record belt 25.- A portion of this solvent evaporates into the surrounding air. The remainder is driven off as the treated surface moves over the outlet port 56 of the blower housing 5?, from which a current of heated air is discharged. Before the solvent is removed from the record belt 25, however, it has sufficient time in which to act on the record material to remove all traces of the sound track previously formed therein.

When the member i8 is in the loading position, the half-nut 83 of the carriage i5 is out of contact with the lead screw 12; hence the spring 81 holds the carriage E5 in the position shown in Figure 8'. Upon lowering the idler mandrel 2A to the operating position,'-however, the half-nut 83 engages the lead screw 12. As the driven mandrel IS turns when the apparatus is in this latter position, the carriage '55 moves to the'left, as

viewed in Figure 8, at a rate proportional to the angular velocity of the mandrel it. As previously mentioned, the position of the unit 3'! may be adjusted relative to the upper housing it?! by the adjustment screw 85, so that the distance. be

tween the switches 85 and 85 and the switch trip 84 on the carriage T5 at the start of the cycle may be varied to obtain the particular number of revolutions of the record 25 about the mandrels l6 and 24 which are necessary to obliterate the sound track. Thus, with'the embodiment shown, the unit 81 may be positioned so that the record belt 25 rotates one, two or three times before the cycle is terminated.

As the switch trip 84 engages and closes the switch 85, the latch M disengages fromthe notch '42, whereupon member 2! moves upwardly by the spring loaded pin 38 to the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 4. When the idler mandrel 2a is in. this position, the record belt 25 is out of engagement with the solvent applicator 5i and thus no more solvent is applied to the record belt 25. However, the distance between the mandrels l6 and 24 is still suiiicient to impart some movement to belt 5. As the switch trip 84 continues to move relative to the lead. screw 72, it closes the switch 86 whereupon the spring loaded armature '93 disengages from the switch arm 92 to break. the circuit leading to the drive moto'r 59 and the electrical resistor 64. The time required for the switch trip 84 to bridge. the distance between the switches 85 and Bil is such, however, that all portions of the record belt 25 which have been wetted by the solvent applicator 5! pass over the outlet 55 before the motor 59 and the resistor 6 are deenergized. This insures that all solvent is removed from the belt 25 at the 'end of theoperating cycle so that said belt 25 is dry to the touch to permit itsremoval from the apparatus immediately.

When the drive motor 59 stops, the switch trip 84 still. remains in engagement with the switches and 86; consequently the latch it remains out of engagement withthe-notch 42.. To remove the reprocessed belt record.- 25'from the apparatus, the operator grasps the handle 26, and swings theidler mandrel E l/back to the loading position. Thegbelt 25 may then be easily slipped oil from the'mandrels l6 and 24. r

t member i3 is swung into'the loading 'ervoir Q5 through position, .the'spring l9 returns the link 8t! to the position shown inFigure 9. The resultant rotation of the arm l8 disengages the half-nut .83 from the lead screw l2. When this-occurs, the

compressed spring Bl reacts on the carriage l5,

tomove the latter to the starting position shown inFig'ure- 8. 'The' switches and 85 thereupon return to the open position, thus deenerg-izing the solenoids'll' l and 96, to place them in'readiness for the next cycle of operation. If the apparatus is not to be used again-immediately, it is desirable to close the needle valve ll to prevent loss of the volatile solvent from the solvent resthe wick 53 and the solvent applicator 5i Thusit will be'seen that we have perfected apparatus which is adapted to the reprocessing of belt-type records and the like by the use of solvents. Moreover, preferred embodiments of our invention are so constructed that the operatorineed 'only. place the used record belt in the i'erred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment has'been given by way' of example only, and that various changes and rearrangements of the details shown herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of whichis defined in the appended claims. We claim:

1. Apparatus for reprocessing a record belt with r solvent, comprising: a frame, a first member and means for pivoting said first member relative to said frame, a driven mandrel rotatably' mounted on said first member, drive means for said mandrel, ';a second-member, means connecting said second member to said first member for movement radially of said driven mandrel, an idler mandrel extending from said second member substantially parallel to said driven mandrel, means for turning said second member about said driven mandrel between a first and a second position, a connecting rod, means pivotally connecting one end of said rod tosaid member eccentric of said driven mandrel, means pivotally connecting the other end of said rod to said'second member concentric with said idler mandrel, whereby the di stanceof said idler mandrel from said drivenmandrel increases as said second member is moved from said first position to said second position,

spring means yieldably opposing movement of saidsecond member a'short distancebeiore said 'memberreaches said second position, releasable locking-means holding said'second member in said secondposition, a lead screw driven by said drive means, a" carriage movable along said lead screw, a half nut on said carriage positionable to drivably connect said carriage to said lead screw, means actuated by said first member to engage said half nut with said lead screw as said second member is moved to said second position, a springopposing movement of said carriage escapes:

means displace said second member away. from said second position to disengage fsaid record belt from said solvent applicator; andsecond control means-actuated by said carriage as said carriage" displaces: in a dditional predetermined distance along said-lead screw in saidsonewdirection; said actuatedzsecond control means stopping saiddrive means and-said blower.

2. Apparatusior. reprocessingarecord belt with solvent, comprising: a first mandrel and a second mandrel; L means spacing. saidmandrels apartp 261 means for swinging saidasecond mandrelrelative to said first mandrel between a first and a second position, means increasing the distance between said first and second mandrels as said second mandrel moves to said second position, the spacing between said mandrels in said second position being such that a belt record looped around said mandrels is placed under tension, drive means operatively connected to at least one of said mandrels, a solvent reservoir, a solvent applicator connected to said solvent reservoir and positioned to contact said record belt when said second mandrel is in said second position, spring means positioned to engage said second mandrel just prior to contact of said record belt with said solvent applicator upon movement of said second mandrel into said second position, said spring means opposing movement of said second mandrel into said second position, releasable lock means holding said second mandrel in said second position, a lead screw drivably connected to said drive means, a carriage movable along said lead screw, means releasably connecting said carriage to said lead screw to drive said carriage in one direction, means actuating said last-mentioned means upon moving said second mandrel to said second position, means actuated by said carriage to release said releasable locking means, whereby said spring means cause said record belt to move out of contact with said solvent applicator, and other spring means acting to drive said carriage in the opposite direction along said lead screw when said second mandrel is moved to said first position.

3. Apparatus for reprocessing a record belt with solvent, comprising: a first mandrel and drive means therefor, a second mandrel, a frame spacing said second mandrel from said first mandrel, means for pivoting said frame to move said second mandrel between a first position and a second position, means increasing the distance between said mandrels as said second mandrel is moved from said first position to said second position, the spacing between said mandrels in said second position being such that a record belt looped around said mandrels is placed under tension, releasable lock means retaining said second mandrel in said second position, means actuating said drive means, a solvent reservoir, a solvent applicator positioned to contact said record belt when 7 ;solvent,11comprising; afirst mandrel and a second r ,;operatively connected to atleastonje of 'sai'd' man said-msecondtmandrelsiiseinosaid:secondsposltioii, meansuconnectingcsaidiapplicatoritciisaidisolvente reservoir;icontrol;means iforzireieasingzxsaiii dock meansia: predeterminedctime following. actuationt of 1 said i drive :means,.; andmeans actingi on saidfi frames-to L move isaid: tre'cord belt: ouk-of contact withtsaid solventapplicatorlauponirelease ot saids' -4; Apparatus for-reprocessing a reecrdibelt with mandrelg i means: spacing saidmandrels apart meansrrf or swinging s aid I second: mandrelt relative to' said finst:m'andreltbetween a=first .anda sec ond position, 1 means increasing; the distance bfe tween 'said -iirst and "secondmandrelsas said sec ond mandrel-moves to -said -secondposition; tlf spacing between said mandrels in said second position being such that a;' record belt looped-around said-mandrel placed'under-tension; dr-ii e'means drels, means for holding said secondma'ndiel i said secon dposition, meansyfo'r releasing said} last mentioned means; a: solvent reservoii'; asol' vent applicator-connected to said solvent reservoir and: positi'cned to engage saidrecord belt w-h'en saidlsecendmandrel {is F in: said; second -posit'ion and-meansacti ng on said secondmandrel to move said record belt out of contact with said solvent applicator upon release of said means holding said second mandrel in said second position.

5. Apparatus for reprocessing a record belt with solvent, comprising: a frame, a first shaft r0- tatably supported by said frame, drive means for said first shaft, a driven mandrel rotatable with said first shaft, a first member rotatable about said first shaft, a second member, guide means slidably pairing said first and second member for movement of said second member substantially radially of said first shaft, an idler mandrel, means rotatably connecting said idler mandrel to said second member, said idler mandrel being substantially parallel to said driven mandrel, means causing said second member to slide radially outwardly relative to said first member as said second member is rotated about said first shaft from a first position to a second position, the distance between said mandrels when in said second position being such that a record belt looped over said mandrels is placed under tension, and means for applying a solvent to said belt record when said mandrels are in said second position.

6. Apparatus for reprocessing a record belt with solvent, comprising: a first mandrel and a second mandrel, means for revolving one of said mandrels about the axis of the other between a belt loading position and a reprocessing position, means for varying the lateral spacing between said mandrels during said movement, whereby in said loading position said mandrels are moved closer together to enable looping a record belt thereover and whereby in said reprocessing position said mandrels are moved farther apart to tension said record belt thereover, a solvent reservoir, a solvent applicator communicating with said resservoir and positioned to be out of contact with said record belt in said loading position and in contact with said record belt in said reprocessing position, means releasably latching said mandrels in said reprocessing position, and means for rotating one of said mandrels at a slow rate of speed and causing said belt to be moved longitudinally about its loop to present successive areas into contactual engagement with said solvent applicator.

J7. Apparatus for'reprocessing a record belt with solvent comprising: a first'roller and a second roller, journal means supporting said rollers for movement laterally toward and away from one another between loading and resurfacing positionsitor vary the distance between said rollers, whereby when close together a record belt may be looped thereover, and whereby when farther apart said looped'record belt is held taut, solvent applicator means positioned to be out of contact with said record belt in the loading position of said mandrels, and to contact said record belt when pulled taut, a motor driven reduction gear train for imparting rotation to one of said rollers and thereby to said record belt and means releasably locking said mandrels when said belt is pulled taut.

8. A machine for treating endless belts which carry sound tracks comprising, a drive roller supported upon a cantilever shaft, a power train for impartingrotation to said cantilever shaft, an extensible 'arm revolving around said shaft through a predetermined are from a belt replacement position to a belt reprocessing position, a second shaft carried at the extremity of said arm and disposed parallel to said cantilever shaft, an idler roller carried on said second shaft, a link 12 pivotally connecting the extremity of said arm with a stationary part of the machine whereby during the revolving of said arm about said cantilever shaft it is extended when moved toward the belt reprocessing position and withdrawn when moved toward said belt replacement position, and

a reprocessing solvent applicator disposed to engage the belt while said arm and said second shaft are in said reprocessing position.

ALBERT I. KEGAN; FORTUNA'IO s. AJERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

